Friday, March 28, 2008 - Groom's side events

Shah House
Tifton, GA

8:30am - Mandap Muharat

The mandap is a four-pillared stage where religious events take place. The mandap muharat is a prayer to drive away evil spirits and to fill the mandap with happy thoughts and blessings.

9:30am - Ganesh Sthapan

Lord Ganesh is one of the most widely worshiped Gods by many Indian religions. He most often is represented in the form of an elephant. Ganesh is the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles. Ergo, the Ganesh Sthapan invokes his blessings to remove obstacles for the couple's new beginning as husband and wife... it's also fun to say.

10:30am - Graha Shanti

You know how the position of the moon influences its gravitational attraction and causes tides here on Earth? Well, the Graha Shanti is a prayer to align the stars and planets so that their collective gravitational forces pull the energy in a most efficient and and positive manner. This will make for a peaceful (shanti) stage for the event.

11:30am - Pithi

The pithi is a fun event to get the groom all dolled up for the wedding - to groom the groom, if you will. The aunties get together and concoct a paste with chickpea flour, rose water, turmeric, and probably some marchu, mittu, and dhaana jeeru. Then people take turns and rub it all over the groom's hands, legs, and face to gently exfoliate and invigorate his skin. Think of it as the Indian Formula for St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

12:30pm - Lunch

I'll let you figure this one out on your own.

Saturday, March 29, 2008 - Wedding and Reception

The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village
500 South Legacy Trail
St. Augustine, Florida 32092
(904) 940-8000
worldgolfrenaissance.com

10:30am - Baraat

The Jaan, all of the people invited by the groom and his family, arrives at the wedding in a procession as one group of people. Traditionally the groom rides to the wedding on a white horse (or other large mammal) preceded by musicians and other energetic people dancing in front of him.

11:00am - Wedding

The groom and the bride sit beside a fire as the priest (Pt. Shrinathji) chants hymns and leads the groom and the bride in exchanging vows. Toward the end of the marriage ceremony, part of the groom's attire and the bride's attire are tied together (symbolizing that they are now united) as they take seven steps around the ceremonial fire, each step symbolizing a different part of life.

1. The couple invokes the manifestations of God for plenty of pure and nourishing food.
2. The couple prays for the mental, physical and spiritual strength to lead a healthy life.
3. The couple prays for preserving wealth and prosperity in life.
4. The couple invokes the Gods for attainment of happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust in all walks of life.
5. The couple prays for the welfare of all living beings in the Universe and pray for virtuous, noble and heroic children.
6. The couple asks God to give them a long, joyous life and togetherness forever.
7. The couple prays for understanding, companionship, loyalty, and unity.

The bride leads in first three steps symbolizing that the earlier part of marriage is led by the bride. The groom leads in the last four rounds symbolizing that the latter part of life will be led by him. Towards the end of the ceremony, the groom puts a little sindoor (red powder) in the parting of the bride's hair and puts a mangalsutra (necklace) around her neck. These tasks symbolize that she is now a married woman.

1:00pm - Lunch

Lunch will be served at the end of the wedding ceremony.

3:00pm - Vidhai

The vidhai is the symbolic departure of the bride from her parents' home to start a new life with her husband. Pack your Kleenex© because this tends to be an emotional affair.

3:30pm - Free time

You have a few hours to head to the beach, get 9 holes of golf in, or take a nap.

6:30pm - Cocktails

Drink cocktails, eat some hors d'oeuvres... there really isn't much more to it.

7:45pm - Reception

Listen to Megha's and Shetu's friends and family tell embarrassing stories about them. There'll probably be something about geometry, junior prom, and Fumbles the monkey. If that doesn't excite you, there's cake at the end.

MC: Khalil Jetha

DJ: Raven Sound

Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Go Home

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